Device for interconnecting a first tether and a second tether

ABSTRACT

A device for interconnecting two tethers. The device comprises a body arranged to secure a first tether thereto and has an aperture therein for receiving a second tether. An arm extends from the body and away from the aperture. In use, the second tether is arranged to form a loop, passed through the aperture and around the arm, thereby allowing the device to interconnect the first and second tethers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a device for interconnectingtwo tethers, and particularly relates to a device for interconnectingtethers secured to a boat floating on a body of water.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

When a boat is temporarily secured in a stationary position whilst on abody of water, for example, when a user is fishing in a preferredlocation at sea, it is commonplace to use an anchor to secure the boatto a bed of the body of water, to prevent the boat from moving away fromthe preferred location. The anchor is usually attached to an anchorline, being a rope or chain, and the line is connected to a bow of theboat and lowered to ground level to anchor the boat in position. In thisscenario, the anchored boat is inevitably reorientated by a prevalentcurrent or wind such that the boat becomes positioned downstream of theanchor, having its bow, facing the anchor.

In some instances, a user will need to reorientate or move the anchoredboat relative to the anchor in order to access an alternative location.For example, when a user is fishing at sea, a user may need to adjustthe position of a boat to improve access to a particular location wherefish have collected. When using a single anchor arrangement as describedabove, this can be difficult to maintain as this requires the user tooperate the boat's motor. When the motor ceases to operate, the boatwill return to its original position downstream of and facing theanchor.

To overcome this issue, it is known for boat user to use two anchors andrespective anchor lines to anchor the vessel in position. In thisarrangement, each anchor line is secured at an angle from the boat whichallows the boat to be repositioned relative to the anchors by extendingor retracting the anchor lines, pulling the boat in the direction of oneor other of the anchors and reorientating the boat with respect to aparticular location of interest.

Whilst the dual anchor arrangement can function satisfactorily there area number of drawbacks with this approach. To install both anchors cantake considerable time and effort, unnecessarily consuming engine fuelwhilst adjusting the boats position to set both anchors. Furthermore,once set up, it is awkward to reposition the boat as the anchor linesmust be adjusted in length simultaneously, which can prove verydifficult for a single operator. Furthermore, the dual anchor lines canoccupy a significant area around the boat, increasing the chance offouling other passing boats. It is also a costly solution, requiring thepurchase of an additional anchor and line.

Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a device that allows ananchored boat having a single anchor to be repositioned and/orreorientated relative to the anchor. Furthermore, it would be useful ifsuch a device could be installed and operated by a single user quicklyand with minimal effort. In general, it would be useful to provide asolution that avoids or ameliorates any of the disadvantages present inthe prior art or which provides another alternative to the prior artapproaches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device forinterconnecting a first tether and a second tether having a bodyarranged to secure the first tether thereto and an aperture therein forreceiving the second tether, and an arm extending away from theaperture, wherein, in use, the second tether is arranged to form a loopwhich passes through the aperture and around the arm, therebyinterconnecting the first and second tethers.

Other aspects are disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are front views of the device, connected to one or twotethers;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the device installed between an anchor and aboat; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the device installed as shown in FIG. 4,illustrating three usage scenarios.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure relates generally to a device for interconnectinga first tether to a second tether, to allow a boat floating on a body ofwater to be reorientated relative to a fixed position.

In particular, the disclosure relates to a device for interconnecting afirst tether and a second tether having a body arranged to secure thefirst tether thereto and an aperture therein for receiving the secondtether, and an arm extending away from the aperture, wherein, in use,the second tether is arranged to form a loop which passes through theaperture and around the arm, thereby interconnecting the first andsecond tethers.

The disclosure further relates to a method of adjusting an orientationof a boat floating on a body of water by using the device, the methodcomprising the steps of: connecting a first tether between a firstposition on the boat and the device; connecting a second tether betweena second position on the boat a fixed position; arranging the secondtether to form a loop; passing the loop through the aperture in thedevice and over the arm, thereby securing the second tether to thedevice; and adjusting a length of at least one of the first and secondtethers, thereby reorientating the boat relative to the fixed position.

Typically, the first tether is a fixed length of auxiliary line and thesecond tether is an anchor line, connected between the boat and ananchor, and the device is used to cleat the auxiliary line therebytemporarily fixing the auxiliary line to the anchor line. When utilisedin this way, the auxiliary line is typically tensioned, due to aprevalent current or wind, allowing the portion of anchor line betweenthe device and the boat to be adjusted in length, thereby reorientatingthe boat relative to the anchor position, being where the anchor engagesa bed of the body of water.

When the device is installed to the anchor line and auxiliary line andboth the anchor line and the auxiliary line are connected proximal a bowof the boat, shortening either line moves the boat substantiallylinearly towards and away from the anchor point, allowing a user toaccess different locations in the water adjacent the boat.Alternatively, where the lines are connected proximal to opposite endsof the boat, for example, the auxiliary line proximal to the bow and theanchor line proximal to a stern, shortening the anchor line rotates theboat relative to the anchor point, similarly allowing a user to accessalternative locations adjacent to the boat.

In general, connecting the device to two tethers connected to the boatwill allow the boat to be manoeuvred with respect to a fixed position byadjusting the length of one or both tethers. This offers the advantageof a single user being able to reorientate and easily manoeuvre theboat. Furthermore, if experiencing inclement weather, this can beperformed from the safety of a cabin of the boat. This betterfacilitates certain maritime activities, such as fishing at sea.Furthermore, the device removes the need to set two anchors, reducingcosts of equipment required and fuel consumption during installation ofthe anchors.

The device is particularly directed towards allowing a user havinglittle knowledge of ropes and knots to rapidly and firmly interconnectone tether with another. The device includes at least one aperturethrough one or both tethers are passed and a locking arm extending awaytherefrom, which is configured to allow a loop of at least one tether tobe passed thereover and secured. This arrangement ensures the loopedtether is passed back on itself, locking the rope to the device andproviding a firm connection.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the device 1 is shown interconnecting a first tether10, being an auxiliary line, and a second tether 20, being an anchorline. The device 1 has an elongate body having a first end 2 and asecond end 3 and a longitudinal axis (not shown) extending therebetween.A first aperture 4 is arranged proximal the first end 2 and extendingthrough the body, through which the first tether 10 is passed andsecured. Proximal to the second end 3 of the body is a second aperture 5dimensioned to receive at least two sections of tether. An arm 6 extendsfrom the body and away from the second aperture 5, forming a free end61. The arm 6 has a hooked portion 62 extending further towards thefirst end 2. At a junction of the arm 6 and the body is a recess 7dimensioned to at least partly receive the second tether 20.

In use, the first tether 10 is secured to the body, either directly,such as by passing through the first aperture 4 and being secured toitself or the boat, or indirectly, such as with a releasable connector,such as a carabiner. The second tether 20 is arranged to form a loop 21,and the loop 21 is passed through the second aperture 5 and over the arm6. When the second tether 20 is tensioned, such as by a current or windmoving the boat on the body of water, the arrangement of the arm 6ensures the loop 21 is urged towards the junction of the arm 6 and thebody, and into the recess 7, thereby firmly engaging the device 1. Therelationship of the arm 6 extending at an angle away from the elongatebody and the second aperture 5, the hooked portion 62, and the recess 7decreases the likelihood of the second tether 20 disengaging the device1, for example, when tension in the second tether is reduced.Preferably, the recess 7 extends at least up to the longitudinal axis toassist with preventing non-intentional disengagement of the secondtether 20 from the device 1.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the device 1 further comprisesa second arm extending away from the first aperture 4, and the firsttether 10 is secured to the device 1 by arranging the first tether 10 toform a loop, and passing the loop through the first aperture 4 and overthe second arm, similar to the engagement of the second tether 20 withthe arm 6.

In a further alternative embodiment (not shown), the device comprises abody forming a ring having an aperture therethrough and an arm extendingsubstantially radially to the aperture and having a free end distal tothe aperture. In this embodiment, the first tether 10 is secured to aportion of the ring opposite to the arm and the second tether 20 issecured as described above, by arranging the second tether 20 to form aloop and passing the loop through the aperture and over the arm, therebyinterconnecting the first and second tethers 10, 20. To assistpreventing the second tether 20 disengaging the device, the arm may haveat least two retaining arms extending from the free end, thereby formingat least two respective hooks.

In FIG. 4, the device 1 is shown secured to the first tether 1, being anauxiliary line 10 connected to the bow of the boat 30, and engaged withthe second tether 20, being an anchor line connected between an anchor21 and the stern of the boat 30. Due to the prevalent current in thebody of water 40, the boat 30 is moved towards the right-hand side ofFIG. 4, tensioning the first tether 10 and the lower portion of thesecond tether 20 connected between the anchor 21 and the device 1. Thishas resulted in the upper portion of the second tether 20 going slack.

To set up the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the user anchors the boat 30,typically by lowering the anchor 21 from the boat to the bed 22,allowing the anchor to engage with the bed, and then reversing the boatto increase tension in the anchor line 20. The device 1 is secured to afixed length of auxiliary line 10 which is connected to a position onthe boat 30. A section of anchor line 20 is gripped by the user andarranged in a loop, and the loop passed through the second aperture 5and over the locking arm 6 such that the loop is retained between thelocking arm 6 and the body. The anchor line 20 is released by the user,and, due to the prevalent current acting on the boat 30, is dragged intothe water 40 until the auxiliary line 10 is fully extended. This causesthe lower portion of anchor line 20 to be tensioned, exerting a force onthe second end 3 of the device 1, and the auxiliary line 10 istensioned, exerting an equal and opposite force on the first end 2 ofthe device 1.

When installed in this way, the boat 30 remains anchored in a stationaryposition with the connection location of the auxiliary line 10 being theforemost position and the remainder of the boat urged downstream. Theupper portion of the anchor line 20 may be allowed to go slack byallowing more line 20 to be released from the boat 30, or retracted whenthe user wishes to adjust the orientation and/or position of the boat 30relative to the position of the anchor 21. For example, as the anchorline 20 is connected towards the stern of the boat 30, if the userdecreases the length of the line 20, the stern of the boat 30 willrotate towards the anchor 21. Alternatively, should both lines 10, 20 beconnected to the boat 30 near the bow, when the anchor line 20 isretracted, the boat 30 would move linearly, towards the anchor 21.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 is merelyone example of how the device 1 can be used to interconnect two tethers10, 20 and reorientate the boat 30, and that a number of factors may bevaried to provide alternative results. For example, the connectionlocations of the tethers 10, 20 may be reversed, such that the anchorline 20 is connected proximal to the bow. The auxiliary line 10 may alsobe adjustable in length, allowing the boat 30 to be rotated in theopposite direction.

In FIG. 5, is a top view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, showing thedevice 1 connected to the first and second tethers 10, 20. FIG. 5illustrates three different scenarios of adjusting the length of one orboth tethers 10, 20 in order to reorientate the boat 30 relative to theanchor 21 (not illustrated). It will be appreciated that whilst thedevice 1 has been described as being useful to reorientate the boat 30relative to the anchor 21, the device 1 may be used to reorientate theboat 30 relative to any fixed position the second tether 20 is connectedto.

Although the invention is described above with reference to specificembodiments, it will be appreciated that it is not limited to thoseembodiments and may be embodied in other forms.

1. A device for interconnecting a first tether and a second tether, thedevice comprising a body arranged to secure the first tether thereto andhaving an aperture therein for receiving the second tether, and an armextending away from the aperture, wherein, in use, the second tether isarranged to form a loop which passes through the aperture and around thearm, thereby interconnecting the first and second tethers.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the arm has a free end, thereby allowingthe loop to pass thereover and engage the arm.
 3. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the first tether is secured to the body at aposition arranged distally from the arm.
 4. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the body further comprises a recess arranged adjacent abase of the arm, the recess dimensioned to at least partially receivethe second tether.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the armhas a hooked portion.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein theaperture is dimensioned to receive the first tether and the secondtether, and wherein the first tether is secured to the body by passingthrough the aperture.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein thebody further comprises a second aperture for receiving the first tether,and wherein the first tether is connected to the body by passing throughthe second aperture.
 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein thebody further comprises a second arm extending away from the secondaperture, and wherein the first tether is arranged to form a loop whichpasses through the second aperture and around the second arm, therebysecuring the first tether to the body.
 9. The device according to claim7, wherein the body is elongate, and wherein the first aperture isarranged proximal to a first end of the body and the second aperture isarranged proximal to a second end of the body.
 10. The device accordingto claim 9, wherein the arm is arranged between the first aperture andthe second aperture.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein thebody is buoyant.
 12. A method of adjusting an orientation of a boatfloating on a body of water, the method comprising the steps of:connecting a first tether between a first position on the boat and thedevice according to claim 1; connecting a second tether between a secondposition on the boat a fixed position; arranging the second tether toform a loop; passing the loop through the aperture in the device andover the arm, thereby securing the second tether to the device; andadjusting a length of at least one of the first and second tethers,thereby reorientating the boat relative to the fixed position.
 13. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein the second tether is an anchorline connected to an anchor and the fixed position is a point ofengagement between the anchor and a bed of the body of water, andwherein the step of adjusting the length of at least one of the firstand second tethers further comprises adjusting the length of the secondtether.
 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first locationis arranged proximal to a bow of the boat, and wherein the step ofadjusting the length of at least one of the first and second tethersfurther comprises adjusting the length of the first tether, therebyadjusting the position of the bow relative to the fixed position. 15.The method according to claim 14, wherein the second location isarranged proximal to a stern of the boat, and wherein the step ofadjusting the length of at least one of the first and second tethersfurther comprises adjusting the length of the second tether, therebyadjusting the position of the stern relative to the fixed position.